Competition is intense at OC Throwdown

Jan. 12, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Reid Worthington of Yorba Linda, a former football player for Northern Arizona University, competes for the first time in the OC Throwdown athletic competition in Costa Mesa Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Bryan Wadkins of Anaheim fights through his injuries to finish second in the Masters heat during OC Throwdown at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Melisa Nelson of Anaheim, with Crossfit RXD, takes part in the 2013 Throwdown, a two-day fitness competition at the OC Fair and Event Center. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mike Ford of Portland gets some muscle attention after he ran a 7K, one lap of it carrying a 70-pound bag. This was one of three events he was taking part in during the two-day, 2013 OC Throwdown at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Joey Altobelli of Long Beach works the rings during the OC Throwdown, a two-day athletic competition at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. The event started four years ago as a local competition but has grown into a major competition, drawing high quality competitors from all over California and other states. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Alessandra Pichelli of East Bay wears a look of determination as she competes in the OC Throwdown athletic competition at the OC Fair and Event Center. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jake Neubauer of Sacramento works the pull-up bar during the two-day OC Throwdown athletic competition at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Reid Worthington of Yorba Linda, a former football player for Northern Arizona University, competes for the first time in the OC Throwdown athletic competition in Costa Mesa Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The OC Throwdown competition was started to provide local athletes an avenue to showcase their skills and fitness levels. But the friendly competition among nearby clubs and gyms soon morphed into a major competition, drawing high quality competitors from around Southern California and as far as Nevada and Sacramento.

Saturday marked the event's fourth year, and a few hundred athletes were set to take part in the two-day competition at the OC Fair and Event Center.

Bryan Wadkins of Anaheim has competed every year. As his wife Nyra cheered, Wadkins pulled through, literally, pushing past a shoulder injury as he performed muscle ups, ring pull ups and box jumps to take second place in the Gym Rat Wrist Wrap heat of the day's athletics in the Masters division.

It's Wadkins first year competing in the 40 and older division. His friend and coach Derek Kennedy was on hand to make sure "his body stays in one piece and he performs to the best of his ability."

"He's doing well right now. He's a warrior," said Kennedy.

The gym portion followed a 7K race in which runners had to carry a 70-pound bag for one lap of the race. The athletics continues Sunday when winners will be declared.

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